Microsoft Outlook Recovery Tool

5/19/2019
44 Comments

I'm wondering why Microsoft decided to pull all Digital River .isos down and replace them with a non-functional tool?

Also why Microsoft force entry of a product key with this tool? Didn't they learn with the initial Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 downloaders that forcing the entry of a product key to download installation media was a bad idea? This tool doesn't work for retail licenses as it seems to be intended for. It also blocks out all OEM licenses and the Digital River .isos were a valuable installation source for OEM licenses.

Case 1:

When I select English with the new tool for my English Student Windows 7 Professional Upgrade License (purchased from software4students.co.uk)

The language you've selected is not available for the product you are eligible for. Please select a different language.

It however will let me download in French!!! Despite the fact that I bought an English license in an English speaking country... We don't speak French in the United Kingdom...

Case 2:

When I select English with the new tool for my English Student Windows 7 Ultimate License (purchased from software4students.co.uk)

Unsupported Product

The product key you entered appears to be for software licensed through an Enterprise Agreement. Please contact theVolume Licensing Service Centerfor software recovery options or visit theVolume Licensing Home Pagefor more information on Enterprise Agreements.

My license is not volume license and is an English retail upgrade. Does Microsoft even test these tools before breaking things that worked these days?

Case 3:

When I select English with my Dell Windows 7 Home Premium Product Key on its COA. I get

The product key you entered appears to be for software that was pre-installed on a device. Please contact the device manufacturer for software recovery options.

If Microsoft are going to make a new tool for retail installs can they actually let OEMs like Dell provide a similar utility to download installation media with OEM SLP activation? The question is in 2015 with modern internet speeds why do Microsoft still force OEMs to administer the most convoluted procedure ever? Why should I have to waste time to call Dell to get physical media shipped? Then waste even more time waiting on shipment? Then install when I can instead easily download a .iso in less than an hour and complete most the install within the time it takes to call Dell to get the media sent out.

Update 20/06/2015

The Microsoft Software Recovery Tool will likely never be fixed as Windows 7 is about to be cut in far for Windows 10 RTM.

For a while I've been advising:

  1. Windows 7 OEM customers with no installation media
  2. Windows 8.1 OEM (with Bing) customers with no installation media
  3. Windows Vista OEM/Retail customers with an obsolete OS but capable hardware
  4. Windows XP OEM/Retail Customers with a very obsolete OS but capable hardware

to install Windows 10 Insider and use it as a stepping stone to reach Windows 10 RTM. I knew Microsoft could not add Windows 7 OEM SLP to Windows 10 due to piracy concerns. I knew also they would have a huge mess on their hands with Windows Insiders in situation 1. and 2. who are eligible for the free upgrade but installed the Windows 10 Insider and had no installation media.

Now Microsoft finally present details in how the free upgrade works.

Getting the final release on July 29th

Windows Insiders running the Windows 10 Insider Preview (Home and Pro editions) with their registered MSA connected to their PC will receive the final release build of Windows 10 starting on July 29th. This will come as just another flight. I’ve gotten a lot of questions from Windows Insiders about how this will work if they clean installed from ISO. As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the MSA you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated. Once you have successfully installed this build and activated, you will also be able to clean install on that PC from final media if you want to start over fresh.

Source: http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/06/19/upcoming-changes-to-windows-10-insider-preview-builds/

Taking a Look into Windows 10 Microsoft Product Activation: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/insider_wintp-insider_install/windows-10147-signs-of-product-keys-and-microsoft/c615f84b-9fd4-4279-9e00-beeccf73ad34?tm=1434802801431

Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular email clients around, regularly ranking among the top clients. It’s only beaten by Apple’s integrated mail solution and Gmail for global email opens. Most people use Outlook at some time in their lives.

Given those millions of users, it is understandable that at some point, someone will forget their Outlook password. And in those moments, you need a tool that can retrieve the password while keeping your data intact.

Here are three tools to help with Outlook password recovery. But first, we need to understand the difference between PST and OST files and how they store and password-protect your mail in Outlook.

Differences Between Outlook PST and OST Files

The way Outlook stores, manages, and secures your data depends on the type of account you are using. There are two main types of Outlook data files:

  • PST: A Personal Storage Table is the storage system Outlook uses for POP and IMAP accounts. Your email is delivered to and stored on the mail server, and is only accessible while online. You can take backups of your emailBacking Up Your Microsoft Outlook Emails Made SimpleBacking Up Your Microsoft Outlook Emails Made SimpleBacking up old emails can seem complicated, but it doesn't have to be, especially if you're using Microsoft Outlook. We show you how simple the process of archiving and storing emails can be.Read More to work on, but this also creates a new PST file. When you move to a new computer, PST files transfer easily between systems5 Best Tools for Microsoft Outlook5 Best Tools for Microsoft OutlookAre you missing a feature in Microsoft Outlook? Here are Outlook tools that add useful functionality or provide quick access to its settings and features.Read More.
  • OST: You can use an Offline Storage Table file when you want to keep an entire local backup of an email account. All the data is stored on your computer as well as the mail server. This means the entire user account email database is accessible, regardless of network connection. Changes sync when the user establishes a connection with the mail server.

There are two more vital differences between the two file types.

By and large, PST data files store vital information, such as passwords, to the local machine. This password locks unauthorized users out of the Outlook account, protecting emails and user data in the process. The OST data file also uses local storage but doesn’t contain any passwords. As such, the PST file is open for password retrieval. (Do note that OST passwords aren’t much more secure.)

The second difference is a bug in Microsoft Outlook’s password protection that relates to password storage.

The Microsoft Outlook PST Password Protection Bug

When you enter a password on a website, the site (hopefully) doesn’t store it in plaintext. Plaintext is what you’re reading now, so you can see why storing a password in this form isn’t so wise. The website takes your password and creates a hash.

A hash is a long string of alphanumeric characters that represent your password and is tied to your username. When you type your username and password combination, the database returns a positive response, and you enter your account. But if an attacker enters the database, all they see is a long list of confusing hash values.

Here’s the problem with Outlook: Instead of using a complex hashing algorithm (ideally with a salt10 Basic Encryption Terms Everyone Should Know and Understand10 Basic Encryption Terms Everyone Should Know and UnderstandEveryone's talking about encryption, but if you find yourself lost or confused, here are some key encryption terms to know that'll bring you up to speed.Read More), Microsoft appears to have cut some security corners using the basic CRC32 algorithm.

The bad news is that each CRC32 hash has a lot of matching values, meaning there’s a strong chance a password retrieval program will unlock your file. This is great if you need your PST file unlocked, but utterly terrible if you want to keep it secure.

This is where Outlook password recovery tools come in.

PST Tools for Outlook Password Recovery

There are several tools you can use to retrieve PST passwords and unlock your data file.

1. PstPassword

Nirsoft’s PstPassword is a great free utility that automatically retrieves PST passwords for local data files. PstPassword displays three potential passwords due to the encryption bug. If the first option fails, you have two more choices. (In fact, PstPassword generates a long list of CRC32 hashes that might unlock the data file.)

PstPassword doesn’t require installation, either. However, your system might detect it as a malicious file (as it is harvesting passwords, something that you don’t want at other times).

2. Kernel Outlook PST Password Recovery Tool

Kernel Outlook PST Password Recovery Tool is a limited free utility. The major limitation is the size of the PST file the tool will unlock. Kernel’s tool will unlock PST files up to 500MB for free. However, if your data file size surpasses that you will need to upgrade to the Home License for $39.

The tool quickly analyzes your PST files, providing a hash value for you to enter. Unlike PstPassword, Kernel only grants a single password hash to try. However, if that doesn’t work, Kernel also has the option to remove the password protection from the PST file (as well as adding a new one if you desire).

3. Recovery Toolbox for Outlook Password

Our final tool is Recovery Toolbox for Outlook Password. Recovery Toolbox costs $19 but comes with a few more options than either free option. For example, Recovery Toolbox can:

  • Recover and show passwords for PST data files
  • Reset PST data file passwords
  • Recover and remove some passwords for OST data files

The major difference is support for OST files. The paid version of Recovery Toolbox shows and removes OST passwords, too, giving it a slight advantage. That said, other free online tools will uncover even the most secure Outlook OST data file passwords, too.

Testing the PST Password Protection Bug

You can check the password protection bug out for yourself using PstPassword.

Open Outlook and head to File > Account Settings > Data Files. Press Add to create a new data file, giving it a temporary name. Next, head to Settings > Change Password. Leaving the “Old password” field empty (as it is a new data file), enter a strong new password in the “New password” and “Verify password” fields. (In fact, I’m using a Secure Password Generator to create a super-strong 16-character password.)

You might note that despite the 16-character password, Outlook only accepts 15-characters. Regardless, press OK, close the panel, then close Outlook.

Download, then open PstPassword. It should automatically detect your newly created PST file, as well as any existing data files, too. Now, alongside your test file, there are three potential passwords. Because the password is over a certain amount of characters, PstPassword displays the hash values.

Open Outlook again and enter one of the hash values. If it doesn’t work, try the next one. In the event the first three don’t work, right-click the test data file and select Get more passwords.

Mail PassView is another free password viewing and recovery tool from Nirsoft. Mail PassView uncovers OST data file passwords, rather than PST data files. However, as OST data file passwords are usually set via mail server rather than in Outlook itself, the tool cannot remove passwords or offer alternatives.

Still, Mail PassView is a useful free tool for recovering your Outlook password.

Outlook Password Recovery Complete!

One of these tools will grant you access to your Microsoft Outlook PST data file. Some Microsoft Office programs have strong integrated encryption.

However, you have seen the Outlook password protection bug and how you can easily uncover a lost password.

Is the reason you forgot your Outlook password that you’re really using Gmail now? It’s time to forward your Outlook emailsHow to Forward Your Outlook Email to GmailHow to Forward Your Outlook Email to GmailNeed to forward email from Outlook to Gmail? We'll show you how to import Outlook to Gmail and bring everything with you.Read More:

Explore more about: Microsoft Outlook, Password, Password Recovery, Windows 10.

  1. I m looking for Microsoft outlook password recovery. Thanks for such information, It's very useful to me.

  2. You can use cmd to do it to

  3. Asterisk Key too!